Cyst Aspiration for Polycystic Kidney Disease

2013-09-17 08:47

Along with the enlargement of kidney cysts, patients with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) are more likely to suffer from sharp or dull kidney pain. To ease this symptom, doctors may suggest cyst aspiration for these patients.

Cyst aspiration for Polycystic Kidney Disease

Generally, PKD patients don’t need aspiration unless some of their cysts are too big. During this surgerym, the doctor firstly punctures the cyst with a long needle inserted through the skin with the guidance of ultrasound. Then, doctor fills the empty punch with substances that contain alcohol. This makes the tissue to harden so as to lower the rate of recurrence. Once the pressure on tissuses and organs around kidneys is reduced, patients’ back pain will be alleviated largely.

However, in some cases, the drained kidney cyst may return and refill with fluid. Then, another surgery is needed. The high recurrence rate makes many PKD patients refuse cyst aspiration.

Why can’t aspiration remove large kidney cyst completely?

This is because a specific cell called cystic epithelial lining cell exists in PKD cyst. It is responsible for secreting sac fluid. Aspiration can drain primary sac fluid, but it can’t inhibit the activity of these cells. As a result, the sac fluid secreted by cystic epithelial lining cells can refill the kidney cyst again. In view of this, some medicines that can inactivate these cells are needed.

Some Chinese medicines have such an effect. Through increasing the permeability of cystic walls and inhibiting the secretion of cystic lining epithelial cells, these medicines can prevent the recurrence of large PKD cyst effectively. For example, ground beeltle and rhizoma sparganii are used most often to treat PKD. However, many other medicines are also needed according to patients’ condition.

When these specific cells can’t secrete sac fluid any more, the growth of PKD cysts will be stopped, let alone easing some symptoms.

If you send us email, please leave your phone number or WhatsApp/Viber (with country code) in email so that our renal expert can communicate with you timely and directly. We will do utmost to help you solve the problems.